Today’s news summary – Paper Talk: ‘Labour plunged into chaos forced to ditch second candidate’ & ‘Tributes to Steve Wright’
The majority of Wednesday’s newspapers lead with Labour suspending a second candidate over his alleged remarks about Israel.
Elsewhere, the death of Steve Wright features on most of the front pages.
‘Labour forced to ditch second candidate’
Labour has ditched its candidate for the Rochdale by-election and suspended another selected in Lancashire due to comments made about Israel. Labour’s handling of the row is featured on many of the papers.
Sir Keir Starmer is fighting to “limit damage” and head off a “deepening crisis,” according to the i newspaper. A Labour insider tells the paper MPs had to intervene “to lobby the party leadership” to withdraw its support for Azhar Ali when his comments first emerged.
“They’re like Labour candidates. As soon as you’ve picked one you realise you’ve made a terrible mistake.”
The Telegraph
The Telegraph says Starmer is coming under pressure to investigate five more MPs and candidates the paper claims have been involved in controversies over Israel.
The paper’s cartoon depicts a couple at home on Valentine’s Day. As the woman selects a chocolate from the box in front of her, the man bemoans: “They’re like Labour candidates. As soon as you’ve picked one you realise you’ve made a terrible mistake.”
The Guardian reports that Sir Keir Starmer is struggling to “contain the fallout from the leak of a private meeting” of Labour activists in Lancashire last year. The paper quotes party sources who said Labour had suspended Graham Jones, the candidate for Hyndburn, less than 24 hours after the party withdrew support from Azhar Ali, its candidate for Rochdale by-election this month.
Labour has been “plunged into crisis”, says the Times, after Sir Keir Starmer was “forced to suspend a second parliamentary candidate in two days over renewed evidence of antisemitism” in the party. The Times says it has learnt that Sir Keir is also facing a “revolt” from members of his own team over a leak inquiry carried out by his chief of staff, Sue Gray.
‘Steve Wright dies at 69’
Many of the papers feature images of Steve Wright on their front pages.
The Guardian pays tribute to Radio DJ Steve Wright, whose BBC career lasted more than four decades. The paper describes him as a ‘legend.’ The Express calls him ‘much-loved’, whilst the Daily Star says BBC bosses are “rushing to pay tribute to the legendary radio star they ditched suddenly after four decades”.
The Sun hails Wright as a ‘Radio wonder’ and the Mail calls him ‘truly wonderful.’